Form-folding machine



June 26, 1945. J. FOSSA I 2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Y Fil'ed March 10, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi 1lnven t5) \Jbseph Fossq By his Attorney June 26, 1945. J. FossA2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Inven torJoseph Fossa, By his Attorney June 26, 1945. J. FOSSA I FORM-FOLDINGMACHINE l7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 10, 1944 lnven tor v Joseph FossaBy his jliitji/ June 26, 1945. J. FossA I 2,379,074.

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 [nven forJoseph Fossa, By his Attorney June 26, 1945. J. FossA FORM-FOLDINGMACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 C M-n m a r V 454 '7 f-T' l 44 446 XXEII [nven to? vJase uh Fossq By his Attorney June 26,1945.J, FOSSA, 2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 17 Sheets-Shet e InventorJoseph Foss a By his .At tbrn ey June 26, 1945. I oss 2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 l7 Sheets-Sheet '7 InventorJose v71 Fossa. By his Attorney June 26, 1945. J. FOSSA 2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MA GHINE Filed Ma rchlo, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 InventorJoseph Fossa' By his Attorney June 26, 1945. J ss 2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE m. 4 /4\{\ L O 6/0 v o 3/6 I o O 52a a \3- q d N ama lnven for Joseph Fossa. By his Attorney June 25,1945. v J. FOSSA2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 12 lnven' forJoseph Fossa By his Attorney June 26, 1945.

. J. FOSSA FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 17' Sheets-Sheet 14[nven tor Joseph Fosaa By 7128 Attorney w ll K i W w by A ,3

June 26, 1945. J, FQSSA "2,379,074

FORM-FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 15 Invcn torJbseph Fossa By his Aiiorny June 26, 1945. J, FOS 2,379,074

FORM- FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1944 l7 Sheets-Sheet l6 [nven tarJoseph Fossa, By 7118 Attorney June 26, 1945. J. FossA FORM-FOLDINGMACHINE 1v Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed March 10, 1944 mmbg n fl [nven torJoseph Foss'a, B? his Attorney Patented June 26, 1945 FORM FOLDINGMACHINE Joseph Fossa, Lynn, Mass, assignor to United Shoe MachineryCorporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationMarch 10, 1944, Serial No. 525.914

63 Claims. (Cl. 12'-.5'5.1)

This: invention relates to machines for folding margins of work piecesand more particularly to a form-folding machine in which thefolding iseffected by a pair of cooperating dies which opcrate simultaneouslyalong a substantial marginal portion'of the work. The invention isillustrated herein as embodied in a machine for folding the marginalportions of quarters of shoe uppers although it should be understoodthat the invention is not limited to a machine for operating on workpieces of any particular shape. I

One object of the present invention is'to provide a form-folding machinein which the work is supportedin fixed position on a stationary lowerdie and the folding is accomplished by a cooperating upper die which isso designed that the work is folded by the upper die moving in a singlepath normal to the work-supporting surface of the lower die. To this endand as a feature of the invention, the work piece is held on the'lowerdie with its margin projecting beyond the edge of the die; the upperd-iehaving a. portion which projects over the edge of the lower die andsupports the projecting marginal portion of the work piece.Consequently, when the upper die is moved upwardly the margin of thework piece is turned upwardly at right angles to the body of the workand held there and upon subsequent downward movement of the upper diethe upturnedv portion of the work piece is folded backiupon the bodythereof by the under surface of the projecting portion of the upper die.

The upper and lower dies of the machine illustrated herein are eachformed in sections which are adjustable relatively to one another toaccommodate work pieces of different sizes. In accordance with anotherobject of the invention, provision is made for preserving thecontinuityof the edges of the dies as the sections thereof are separated to. varythe efiective size of the dies. To this end and in accordance with another feature of the invention, filler pieces are provided between eachpair of die sections and are movable automatically from retracted orinoperative positions into positions between the die sectionsupon theirseparation. The filler pieces are urged by springs acting thereonintoop.er-'

ative positions upon separation of the die sections. Latches cooperatewith the filler pieces to hold them in their operative positions againstretraction during operation of the machine, and means are provided forreleasing the latches and retracting the filler pieces when it is.desired to move-the die sections toward one another.

. The illustrated, machine isv designed for folding the margins of shoe.parts having both. canvexly curved and concavely curved marginalportions. In order that these portions may be readily folded and foldedwithout the formation of pleats, provision is made for pinking theconvexly curved portions and slitting the concavely curved portions ofthe work piece during the folding operation. To this end and as afurther'feature of the invention, the machine is provided with slittingand pinking knives which are normally held in elevated positions but arespring urged down wardly to act on the curved marginal portions of thework piece supported on the upper die which thus acts as an anvil incooperation with the knives. After the work piece is positioned and heldon the work-support the knives are released for downward movement to acton the marginal portions of the work piece and are subsequently returnedto their initial positions by upward movement of the upper die and arelocked in their initial positions by latches provided for this purpose.

As another feature of the invention the are mounted for lateraladjustment simultaneously with the sections of the upper and lower diesso that when the dies are adjusted for work pieces of different sizesthe slitting and pinkiT-zg will take place along the proper marginalportions of the work.

Another feature of the invention relates to the .per die during thegreater part of the folding operation so that these portions of theworkwill have the desired contours after they have been folded. f

In accordance with a still further feature of the invention; themechanism by which the upper die ismoved through its cycle of operationsincludes means for maintaining the upper die in engagement with the workfor a predetermined length of time at the completion'of the foldingoperation to press the folded margin-of the work piece. The upper die ismoved by fluid-pressureoperated mechanism which includes an adjustabletiming valve operative to cause the upper die to pause in its movementswhile in pressing engagement with the work for a length of timedependent upon the setting of the valve. Attire vend of this time theupper die moves upwardl to permit removal of the work from the machineand knives then returns to its lowermost position in readiness for thenext cycle of operation.

These and other features of the invention including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts will now be moreparticularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the lower die and itssupporting and adjusting means Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of thelower die illustrating the operation of the mechanism by which the dieis adjusted for the length of a quarter to be folded; I h

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another portion of the die illustrating theoperation of the mechanism by which the parts of the die are adjusted toaccommoclate quarters of different widths;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of a portion of the lower die;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, of the upper-die-supportingmembers;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1, being a plan viewof the cross head supporting the upper die;

Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in section, of the upper and lower diesand associated work-engaging members;

Fig. 10 is a section onthe line X-X of Fig. 8;

V Fig. 11 is ahorizontal section through the upper-die-supportingmembers, the section being taken just above the upper die, there beingawork piece supported on the lower die;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line XII-XII of Fig. '7 showing oneof th presser feet in its raised position;

Fig. 13 is a similar view showingthe presser foot in its work-engagingposition;

Fig. 14 is an angular view of the presser foot support;

Fig. 15 is an exploded View of one of the presser feet and an associatedcornertool; V

Fig. 16 is a rear view of a portion of the upper and lower dieassembliesshowing the manner of supporting and guiding th upper die;

Fig. 17 is a section on the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 11;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line XVIII-XVIII of Fig.7, showing one ofthe presser feet, a corner tool, and a pinking tool in raised positions;

Fig. 19'is a similar view showing the positions of the parts after thepresser foot has been moved into engagement with the work;

Fig. 20 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts after thepinking tool has been moved into engagement with the work and the upperdie has started its upward movement;

Fig. 21 is a view of the parts shown in Figs. 18 to 20 on a largerscale, showing the positions of the parts after the corner tool hasmoved into engagement with the work;

Figs. 22 to 26 are progressive views showing the position of the upperdie at various stages through the remaining portion of the cycle ofoperation of the machine;

Fig, 27 is a section on the line XXVII-XXVII of Fig. 7

Fig. 28 is an angular exploded view of a portion of the upper and lowerdies and associated structure;

Fig. 29 is an elevation of one of the slitting tools;

Fig. 30 is an elevation of one of the pinking tools;

Fig. 31 is a vertical section through the upper and lower diesillustrating the filler pieces between adjacent portions of the upperand lower dies, the filler pieces being in their retracted positions;

Fig. 32 is a similar view illustrating the filler pieces in theiroperative positions;

Fig. 33 is an elevation of the mechanisms by which the filler piecesassociated with the upper of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.36;

Fig. 38 is a vertical section of the filler-piecesretracting mechanism;

Fig. 39 is an angular view of the mechanism by which the sections of thedies are adjustably supported for diiferent sizes of work pieces;

Fig. 40 is an angular view, partly in section, of the mechanism shown atthe right in Fig. 39;

Fig. 41 is a vertical section through one of the actuating handles ofthe mechanism illustrated in Fig. 39

Fig. 42 is a horizontal section on the line XLII- XLII of Fig. 2illustrating a portion of the mechanism for releasing the pinking andslitting knives;

Fig. a3 is a vertical section through the mechanism for releasing thepinking and slitting knives;

Fig; 44 is an angular view, partly in section, showing the mechanism fordriving the main cam shaft and for operating the upper die;

Fig. 45 is an angular view, partly in section, of a portion of themechanism shown in Fig. 44;

Fig. 46 is an angular view, partly in section, of the cam shaft andassociated mechanism i1lustrating a portion of the mechanism foroperating the presser feet and the corner tools;

Fig. 47 is an angular view of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 46;

Fig. 48 is a side elevation of the main treadle and mechanism operatedthereby;

Fig. 49 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parts of Fig. 48 shown indifferent positions;

Fig. 50 is a fragmentary side elevation of some of the parts of Fig. 48shown in still other positions;

Fig; 51 is an angular view of the mechanism of Fig. 48;

Fig. 52 is an angular view, partly in section, of a portion of thefluid-pressure mechanism;

Fig. 53 is a vertical section through the valve by which the length oftime that the upper die remains in pressing engagement with the fold isregulated; and Fig. 54 is a plan View, partly in section, of thefluid-pressure mechanism.

The machine is illustrated as being carried by a frame comprising legsl0 and I2 (Fig. 1) between the upper ends of which is secured a bed I4.The leg It] may be attached directly to the floor and the leg I2 iscarried by the bottom of 'a fluid reservoir l6 which is in turnsupported on the floor. Secured to the upper surface of the bed I4 is aplate l8 carrying a lower die which supports a work piece the margin ofwhich is to be folded.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the lower die 20 isshaped to support the quarter of a shoe upper as shown in Fig. 3. Thisdie is made of a plurality of sections which may be separated to theextent desired to accommodate quarters of difierent sizes. The diecomprises a center section 22 which supports the heel end of thequarter, a pair of intermediate sections 24, and a pair of wing sections26. As shown more clearly in Fig. 6 the center section 22 of the dieincludes a base plate 28 which is secured to the supporting plate I8, ablock 30 fastened to the base plate 28 by screws 32 and a top plate 34fastened to the upper surface of the block 30. The top plate 34 supportsthe work for the folding operation and is preferably formed of suitableyieldable material such as rubber to accommodate varying thicknesses ofwork. The intermediate sections 24 which are similar to each other andonly one of which is illustrated in Fig. 6 each comprise a base plate36, a block 38 and a top plate 40 of rubber or similar material.Similarly, the wing sections 26 each comprise a base plate 42, a block44 and a top plate 45. The center section of the lower die is secured bythe bottom plate 28 to the supporting plate is against movement in themachine. However, the intermediate sections 24 and the wing sections 26are adjustable relatively to the center section 22 as shown more clearlyin Figs. 4. and 5 so that the lower die may accommodate quarters ofdiiferent lengths and widths.

For thus supporting the wing sections 26, the base plates 42 thereof arecarried by arms 43 extending forwardly of the machine through slots cutin the under surfaces of the base plates 36 of the intermediate sectionsof the die and terminating forwardly thereof. Carried by the forwardends of the arms 46 are cam rolls 48 received by slots 50 formed inslides 52 supported in slideways in the supporting plate 18. The slots50 in the slides 52 are so inclined that upon movement of the slidesrearwardly of the machine from the position shown in Fig. 3 the arms 46are moved in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 4 and 5, thus movingthe wing sections 28 rearwardly away from the adjacent surfaces of theintermediate sections 24. This adjustment is made possible toaccommodate quarters of different widths. For thus moving the slides 52to adjust the die for different widths of quarters a slide 54 extendingtransversely of the slides 52 and supported thereon is provided. Theslide 54 is formed with a pair of slots 56 which receive cam rolls 58carried by the slides 52, the slots being so inclined that upon movementof the slide 54 to the right as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5 the slides 52are moved rearwardly.

The slide 54 is guided for movement in slots formed in the undersurfaces of racks 59 which are secured to slides 60 adjacent to theslides 52, the purpose of which slides will appear as the descriptionproceeds. The right end of the slide 54 is formed with rack teeth 62with which mesh the teeth of a gear segment 64 (Figs. 39 and 40) carriedby a shaft 55 journaled in bearings 68 and ill formed in upwardlyextending arms of a bracket 12 secured to the supporting plate 18. Theshaft 66 carries an arm 14 to the outer end of which is secured a handle16 by which the arm 14 may be moved to rock the shaft 66 and move theslide 54 through the gear segment 54' and the rack teeth 62. The arm 74may be held in one of several different positions which correspond todifferent widths of shoes bya pin 18 'slidable within the handle 16 andhaving a tapered end portion engageable with one of a plurality ofapertures formed in a plate 82 secured to an extension 84 of the bracket12. As shown in Fig. 41 the forward end of the pin 78 is formed withrack teeth 86 engageable with the teeth of a gear segment 88 journaledon a pin 90 in the outer end of the handle. The gear segment 88-isprovided with other teeth 92 engageable with teeth 94in the forwardportion of a lever 96 pivoted at 9B in the inner end of the handle. Aspring Hit acting between the handle 16 and the lever 9% urges theforward nd of the lever downwardly to move the pin 18 toward the plate82 so that when the pin is registered with one of the aperture 8!) itlocks the arm 14 in the desired position and the wing .sections of thedie are locked against movement.

It will be noted in Fig. 41 that the rearward end of the lever 96 has aportion engageable with the adjacent surface of the plate 82 so thatwhen the forward end of the lever is raisedagainst the forc exerted bythe spring Hill the handle 16 will be moved away from the plate 82 toassist in it is desired to efiect a width adjustment of the lower die.

The intermediate section 24 of the lower die are arranged for lateralmovement relatively to the center section 22. They are each guidedduring this movement by a bar Hi2 (Figs. 3 and 6) carried at one end bythe base plate 28 of the center section of the die and at their outerends by the plate l8, there being a spacing washer H33 between the outerend of each arm and the plate corresponding in thickness to thethickness of the bottom plates 36 of the intermediate sections. Theblocks 38 of the intermediate sections are slotted to receive the bars I22 which thereby guide the intermediate sections in their movements. Thebase plates 36 of the intermediate sections carry rolls IM which arereceived by slots I06 formed in the slides 58 carried by the plate l8adjacent to the slides 52. The slots I06 are so inclined that uponmovement of th slides l'ill rearwardly of the machine, as indicated inFig. 4, the intermediate sections are moved away from the center section38 along the bars 1H2. As

pointed out above, the arms 46 to which the wing sections are securedpass through slots formed in the under surface of th base plates 36 ofthe intermediate sections and, accordingly, these arm will be moved withthe intermediate sections so that the wing sections will be adjustedwith the intermediate sections upon rearward movement of the slides 66.Inasmuch as the racks 59 through which the transvers slide 54 passes aresecured to the,slide 68 the slide 54 will also be moved rearwardly ofthe machine as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. the slides 52 to bemoved rearwardly, thus effecting an additional movement of the winsections so that they will be separated still further from theintermediate sections. Thus, upon adjustment of the lower die forquarters of diiierent lengths by movement of the slides 58, both thewing sections and the intermediate sections of the die are movedrelatively to the center section This will cause

